Boundary and field umpires coming together to determine whether a player has incidentally kicked a ball over the line has become a nightmare sight for AFL fans.
"Not again."
In a year where umpiring has been in the spotlight more than ever before, the accidental kick activating the lasso rule has arguably been the source of greatest frustration for common footy fans.
Commentators and fans alike cry that the rule was not brought in to punish players when a ball rebounds off their shin or foot and over the line.
Aggravated fans have called for the rule to be scrapped in such instances, but that is an overly simplistic view which would further complicate the situation.
It would change what is presently a black and white rule into an interpretation call for officiators who are already under the microscope more than ever before.
Having to distinguish between deliberate, instinctive and entirely accidental kicks opens a can of worms that would threaten to further confuse and frustrate.
But there is a simple solution that has not been considered.
The lasso rule should only apply if a kick travels at least 15 metres.
For kicks which travel fewer than 15 metres, the insufficient intent rule would apply, as it does in each team's forward 50 – preventing players from soccering it forward a few metres when it is close to the line with the sole purpose of gaining territory, for example.
It would make such a minimal difference to the way the rule is umpired in the rest of the game, given it is significantly rare that a deliberate kick travels less than 15 metres over the boundary line without being touched. That would require a chip kick to miss the target by a sizeable margin, which rarely occurs.
What it would ensure is the spirit of the rule is upheld and prevent the game being held up to forensically analyse if a ball has deviated off the boot.
It would not make the game any harder to adjudicate, the purpose of the rule would still be met, unnecessary stoppages as video replays are consulted would be limited and fans would hardly notice a difference.
It seems an easy fix for AFL House.
